Great trail! The right onto the unmarked Indian staircase ascent is easy to miss. We noted a thin cord tied to a frail, dried out root that appeared to be placed to assist descent and ascent from the frog head feature. Use of this cord may confirm an application for a Darwin Award. Also, the cloud splitter trail is sketchy but easy to locate with the help of AllTrails. Exercise extreme caution in less than perfect conditions. I was appalled by the traverse rope (it’s broken anyway) and the 2 cords for the crack ascent. There is no way they are rated for body weight and completely inappropriate. This climb could really use some static line. We chose not to summit cloud splitter due to unsafe weather/ rock conditions and lack of appropriate gear. Otherwise, the features were super cool to explore and the view was gorgeous. It would be even better if the NPS accepted the heavy traffic of this trail and installed via ferrata hardware and warning signs if there are liability concerns.

Did this trail in conjunction with Indian staircase but I feel it prudent to review this section as an isolated trail: the cloud splitter trail is sketchy but easy to locate with the help of AllTrails. Exercise extreme caution in less than perfect conditions. I was appalled by the traverse rope (it’s broken anyway) and the 2 cords for the crack ascent. There is no way they are rated for body weight and completely inappropriate. This climb could really use some static line. We chose not to summit cloud splitter due to unsafe weather/ rock conditions and lack of appropriate gear. Otherwise, the features were super cool to explore and the view was gorgeous. It would be even better if the NPS accepted the heavy traffic of this trail and installed via ferrata hardware and warning signs if there are liability concerns.

Let me just say, there has been NO maintenance on this route. Although it’s rated easy, this is not true at all! There were about 25 plus downed trees that you must maneuver over. The trail IS NOT marked. I am a 26 year Army LTC that has hiked and maneuvered a lot of maps. If you don’t have a GPS or wellMarked map, you could easily get lost. The end of this trail is a beautiful cave with a unique waterfall, but it isn’t for the beginner. Plan on 3-5 hours for this hike!

A short and steep approach with a scramble to a panoramic view. There are two options at the top to reach the lookout. First is a scramble through a water-carved seam with the aid of a rope (the more popular option). Second is off to the right where you will find the entrance to a cave. Instead of entering, make your way up the rock scramble with the help of a large tree root system. Have fun.

Completed this hike today with mostly inexperienced hikers who received a fresh introduction to the art of scrambling. It was difficult, or “Hard” as the rating says. However, the views and vantage points were spectacular and rewarding! I should add that the group of inexperienced hikers that accompanied me have more perseverance and resourcefulness than most beginners. That being said, I do NOT recommend this hike for beginners.

Loved this trail! The beginning is pretty steep, but definitely manageable. When you get toward the top its gets a bit difficult. My boyfriend and I brought our puppy, so he couldn’t walk the whole way up. Luckily he is only 3 lbs. so we could pass him back and forth and catapulted him down between the rocks. Definitely would not take a dog alone, but its possible with two people who are comfortable handling the dog. The view was incredible!

Short trail to get to the Cloud Splitter but it was an aggressive incline. The rock scramble at the top was fun and reminded me of climbing Yosemite sub dome. View was great. Some stupid hikers left a smoldering camp fire at the top.

Amazing hike. Like some have said this recording doesn’t take you to where you would climb the cloud splitter trail, you need to veer off for this one. I used the other recording for cloudsplitter shortcut to make sure I was on the right path. The climb was awesome, there was a thin rope of paracord that went halfway down the steep part but I was hesitant to use it to support all my weight. View at the top of cloudsplitter was the best of this hike and maybe even all of the gorge.

Amazing trail. Name may be misleading for those who actually want to climb Cloudsplitter and see the slot canyon. The regular map is great...and I forgot to record...but basically, where the map has you go left down to 715 to walk back to the trailhead—don’t do that unless you DONT want to try and see the slot canyon! Instead continue on the white dotted trail past the giant triangular rock on your left. Watch for an unmarked trail on your right, not too far after. It’s a slight open area that has what looks like two washed out creeks.

I liked this trail. Be warned we did see a rattlesnake and a copper head swimming in the pool of water where the big rock is. It’s a long trail and we didn’t get a chance to finish it. But the bridge was neat. Didn’t get to see a lot of birds, just heard them.

Beautiful view at the top. Easy trail to follow. At the end there is scrambling, not very difficult to do. We brought our dog (35 lbs), so the hardest part was figuring out how to get her up. We had to pass her several times because she couldn’t get a good footing on just the rock face, though there were many places that had tree roots and dirt that she could stand on securely. Basically, if you bring a dog you need two people who are comfortable holding the dog while scrambling.

I would rate the hike as moderate, not hard. It was short and quick. There are trees to set up a hammock at the top, too.

(If you’re interested in an even better view then do Indian Staircase. But don’t bring a dog, the trail is hard to follow and there’s more and harder scrambling)

I've spent a lot of time in the Gorge and this may be my new favorite place. I visited for the first time yesterday. There's no longer a rope for the final ascent to the top but I was able to scale the last section following the split in the rock below the cedar where the rope use to be. I wouldn't recommend attempting it on a wet day, but then again I wouldn't recommend being on top of cloud splitter on a wet day. Here's a link that gives some great perspective of cloud splitter and what makes it unique, the 360 degree views it gives of the gorge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqvCvMHpKIg

This was our first time to the area. Trail was great in the beginning, loved the suspension bridge, but then it got confusing and we got lost. We happened upon one sign that the top had been knocked off, not sure what was on it. I’ll be sending in the picture in and hopefully they’ll get it fixed. On another sign, the words for the trail were barely legible. Somehow we ended up on the rough trail and had been walking five hours before we walked out, thankfully with the help of a couple of hikers who have been there before and who knew the area.

finally made it to the cloudsplitter, and dang! it was brilliant. Don't let other reviews fool you, the trail and rock scrambling up may be strenuous, but it is definitely achievable and well worth reaching the top. there was a lot of traffic coming out of the cave right below the peak, so we bypassed seeing what was in and on the other side, but our next trip we will be going through it.